24 Original Recordings of 1956: Pink Cadillac, Elvis Presley - Qobuz (2024)

FAQs

How many recordings did Elvis Presley have? ›

Though Elvis Presley recorded more than 700 songs, he did not pen any of them himself. His co-writing credits were limited – and some were there just for publishing and rights purposes – but he was a master at selecting good songs.

On July 18, 1953, Presley first went to the Memphis Recording Service at the Sun Record Company, now commonly known as Sun Studio. He paid $3.98 to record the first of two double-sided demo acetates, "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin".

Elvis Presley (released in the UK as Elvis Presley Rock n' Roll) is the debut studio album by American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley. It was released by RCA Victor, on March 23, 1956, (catalog number LPM-1254).

Elvis recorded at Memphis' famous Stax Studios in 1973, laying down tunes like “It's Midnight,” “Raised on Rock,” “My Boy,” “Promised Land,” “I've Got a Thing About You Baby” and “For Ol' Time Sake.” Elvis' final recording sessions took place right at home at Graceland, in the legendary Jungle Room.

A complete set of the five original SUN 45 rpm singles (1954,1955) in near mint condition in the original sleeves sold in 2015 for $32,500. There are no Elvis Presley records that were commercially released that are so rare that only a one or two copies exist.

Having Fun with Elvis on Stage has been considered Presley's worst album; many critics felt that the compilation of banter was incoherent and lacked context with the removal of the songs.

'Heartbreak Hotel' (1956)

"Heartbreak Hotel" is the song that launched Elvis' career into the stratosphere, firmly establishing him as a rock 'n' roll sensation. Long after its release, "Heartbreak Hotel" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1995.

During his lifetime, Elvis Presley made—and spent—quite a bit of money. In December 1956, the Wall Street Journal reported he had sold a staggering $22 million in merchandise in the preceding months—that's $236.42 million in today's money.

Elvis' first single, “Heartbreak Hotel” was released on January 27, 1956 and his self-titled debut album two months later. “Heartbreak Hotel” became Elvis Presley's first Number One single and his debut album quickly went gold.

Beloved singer Elvis Presley called his wife, Priscilla Presley, "Satnin" an affectionate nickname.

What was Elvis first hit song? ›

The singles discography of Elvis Presley began in 1954 with the release of his first commercial single, "That's All Right".

Because his manager, “Colonel” Tom Parker, (not his birth name) was a Dutch illegal alien who entered the country as a stowaway. Consequently he didn't have a passport nor could he obtain one, and he refused to let his only client (Elvis) go on tour overseas without him.

Baz Luhrmann recreated Memphis to film ELVIS on Australia's Gold Coast, but you can visit the real locations in Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis spent his childhood, got his start as a recording artist and lived throughout his career.

It was at Stax, however, where the King recorded 28 songs in 1973, which were subsequently released over three albums – Good Times, Raised on Rock, and Promised Land.

Record Sales

It is estimated that more than one billion Elvis Presley records have been sold worldwide. From his early sessions at Sun Records to the end of his career and beyond, Elvis albums and singles enjoyed strong sales across every format–vinyl, cassette, CD and digital.

Who Has Recorded the Most Songs in the World? Asha Bhosle, the iconic Indian singer, holds the title for the most recorded artist in music history. Surpassing her sister Lata Mangeshkar's previous record of 25,000 songs, Bhosle's remarkable career spans over seven decades.

Elvis never wrote a single song although he recorded over 600. He was given co-writing credits on a lot of songs because his label demanded songwriters gave up 50% of the credit to him before he recorded it as they knew he would make it a best seller.

Best-selling artists worldwide as of 2022

Perhaps unsurprisingly, British rock band The Beatles are top of the list for best-selling artists worldwide, with 183 million units certified sales. Second is Garth Brooks with over 157 million units sales, followed by Elvis Presley with 139 million units.